“Listen up, I just turned 10 lakh rupees into 50 lakh rupees in 60 days using WealthPro India. And I’m giving my followers exclusive access with code SHARAN1%. The link is in my bio.” This is what Sharan Hegde was seen saying in the Reel that his girlfriend discovered. She was impressed with his suggestion and was ready to invest Rs 1 lakh right away. The only hitch was it wasn’t Sharan Hegde who was saying those things in that Reel.
Imagine this. You see a video of someone you trust. Same face. Same voice. Same confidence. They claim they turned ₹10 lakh into ₹50 lakh in just 60 days. The app link is in the bio. There’s even a discount code. You hesitate for a second… then click.
That’s exactly the scenario finance creator Sharan Hegde warns about in his latest reel. And the scary part? The video wasn’t even his.
Welcome to the new age of financial fraud, where AI-powered deepfake scams are smarter, faster, and far more convincing than the old “Nigerian prince” emails. Today, financial literacy is no longer just about saving, investing, or budgeting. It’s about learning how not to get fooled.
How deepfake scams are rewriting the rules of fraud
“Hello, hello, please, please, don’t invest, that’s not me, stop! says Sharan.” “Look, listen to me carefully. These eyes are not blinking, their hand movements are very robotic.
This is a deep fake AI video. So, someone scraped my Instagram reels, used AI to clone my face and my voice. And then is running this fake investment scam using my identity.”
Deepfake scams work because they hijack trust. Scammers scrape hours of public content from Instagram, YouTube and podcasts. Then AI tools clone a person’s face, voice, expressions, even their pauses. The result? A video that looks and sounds real enough to fool family members, partners, and entire WhatsApp groups.
As Sharan explains, these scams don’t target strangers alone. They spread through trusted networks. Parents’ WhatsApp groups. Friends’ forwards. Community chats. If someone familiar is ‘recommending’ an investment, people drop their guard.
The numbers are alarming. A Bengaluru woman reportedly lost ₹43 lakh after watching a deepfake video of a senior finance leader promoting a scheme. Same trick. Same urgency. Same promise of guaranteed returns.
Also Read: Unveiling the Truth: Why Financial Transparency is Non-Negotiable
And that’s the first red flag. Guaranteed returns do not exist. Not in stocks. Not in crypto. Not in real estate. If someone promises certainty in the market, certainty is exactly what you won’t get.
Deepfakes also exploit visual cues. As Sharan points out, robotic hand movements, unnatural blinking, or stiff expressions can be giveaways. But here’s the catch: the technology is improving fast. Soon, even these signs may disappear.
Financial literacy in the age of AI
Traditional financial literacy focused on numbers. Today, it must focus on behaviour.
Rule one is verification. If a creator, celebrity, or influencer is recommending something, check if it’s posted on their official account. If it’s not there, assume it’s fake. No exceptions.
Rule two is platform awareness. Real creators don’t randomly push miracle apps via forwarded videos. And no credible investment doubles money in weeks. Markets reward patience, not panic.
Rule three is emotional control. Scams thrive on urgency. “Limited slots.” “Exclusive access.” “Invest now.” If something is pushing you to act fast, slow down instead.
Campaigns like Times of India’s “Don’t Get Scammed” matter because this isn’t a niche issue anymore. It’s a mass problem. If scammers can convincingly fake a finance influencer, they can fake anyone, such as politicians, business leaders, even your relatives.
The uncomfortable truth is this: scams today don’t look suspicious. They look familiar.
“If they can fake me to scam the person who knows me the best, imagine what they’re doing to your family. To learn more about such disastrous scams happening in this country, click the link in my bio and thank me later,” Sharan concludes.
Also Read: 5 Beginner-Friendly Finance Content Ideas for Creators
Financial literacy in 2026 is not just about growing money. It’s about protecting it.
AI has blurred the line between real and fake, advice and advertisement, trust and manipulation. The smartest investors won’t be the ones chasing the highest returns. They’ll be the ones asking the right questions.
If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
If a face feels familiar, verify anyway.
And if doubt creeps in, listen to it.
In this era, scepticism isn’t negativity. It’s survival.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a deepfake investment scam?
It’s a fraud where AI is used to clone a person’s face and voice to promote fake investment schemes.
How can I verify if a video is real?
Check the creator’s official social media accounts or directly message them for confirmation.
Are guaranteed returns always a scam?
Yes. Legitimate investments never guarantee fixed or quick returns.
Who is most vulnerable to these scams?
Parents, first-time investors, and people relying on forwarded messages.
What should I do if I spot a deepfake scam?
Don’t share it. Report it on the platform and warn people in your network immediately.
